• Energy Research
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The building and construction sector is a large contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and consumes vast natural resources. Improvements in this sector are of fundamental importance for national and global targets to combat climate change. In this context, vertical greenery systems (VGS) in buildings have become popular in urban areas to restore green space in cities and be an adaptation strategy for challenges such as climate change. However, only a small amount of knowledge is available on the different VGS environmental impacts. This paper discusses a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) between a building with green walls, a building with green facades and a reference building without any greenery system in the continental Mediterranean climate. This life cycle assessment is carried according to ISO 14040/44 using ReCiPe and GWP indicators. Moreover, this study fills this gap by thoroughly tracking and quantifying all impacts in all phases of the building life cycle related to the manufacturing and construction stage, maintenance, use stage (operational energy use experimentally tested), and final disposal. The adopted functional unit is the square meter of the facade. Results showed that the operational stage had the highest impact contributing by up to 90% of the total environmental impacts during its 50 years life cycle. Moreover, when considering VGS, there is an annual reduction of about 1% in the environmental burdens. However, in summer, the reduction is almost 50%. Finally, if the use stage is excluded, the manufacturing and the maintenance stage are the most significant contributors, especially in the green wall system.

The building and construction sector is a large contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and consumes vast natural resources. Improvements in this sector are of fundamental importance for national and global targets to combat climate change. In this context, vertical greenery systems (VGS) in buildings have become popular in urban areas to restore green space in cities and be an adaptation strategy for challenges such as climate change. However, only a small amount of knowledge is available on the different VGS environmental impacts. This paper discusses a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) between a building with green walls, a building with green facades and a reference building without any greenery system in the continental Mediterranean climate. This life cycle assessment is carried according to ISO 14040/44 using ReCiPe and GWP indicators. Moreover, this study fills this gap by thoroughly tracking and quantifying all impacts in all phases of the building life cycle related to the manufacturing and construction stage, maintenance, use stage (operational energy use experimentally tested), and final disposal. The adopted functional unit is the square meter of the facade. Results showed that the operational stage had the highest impact contributing by up to 90% of the total environmental impacts during its 50 years life cycle. Moreover, when considering VGS, there is an annual reduction of about 1% in the environmental burdens. However, in summer, the reduction is almost 50%. Finally, if the use stage is excluded, the manufacturing and the maintenance stage are the most significant contributors, especially in the green wall system.

Thermokinetics of Biochar production.

Thermokinetics of Biochar production.

The potential of renewable energy should be fully exploited in the transportation sector to achieve a cleaner production. Therefore, this paper proposes an on-grid hybrid hydrogen refueling and battery swapping station powered by wind energy. This novel concept can promote the development of low-carbon emission vehicles including hydrogen-based vehicle and battery electric vehicle. During the daily operation of the station, the multiple uncertainties may lead to a higher operational cost. To address this problem, a hybrid stochastic/distributionally robust optimization method is proposed to handle different uncertainties for the energy management problem. The first type of uncertainties can be depicted by a certain distribution, i.e. electricity price and wind power, which is processed by a stochastic optimization method. The second type of uncertainties is associated with human behaviors and is difficult to find its probability distribution, i.e. the hydrogen demand of hydrogen-based vehicles, so the second type is processed by a distributionally robust optimization method. The overall objective is to minimize the total operational cost of the station, which also considers the battery swapping station overstock punishment. Because a reasonable battery swapping scheduling can reduce the waiting time of users and operational cost of the station. The results indicate that the proposed method can effectively address the conservatism of solutions as its total operational cost is 4.4% lower than that of the hybrid stochastic/robust optimization method under a high confidence level.

The potential of renewable energy should be fully exploited in the transportation sector to achieve a cleaner production. Therefore, this paper proposes an on-grid hybrid hydrogen refueling and battery swapping station powered by wind energy. This novel concept can promote the development of low-carbon emission vehicles including hydrogen-based vehicle and battery electric vehicle. During the daily operation of the station, the multiple uncertainties may lead to a higher operational cost. To address this problem, a hybrid stochastic/distributionally robust optimization method is proposed to handle different uncertainties for the energy management problem. The first type of uncertainties can be depicted by a certain distribution, i.e. electricity price and wind power, which is processed by a stochastic optimization method. The second type of uncertainties is associated with human behaviors and is difficult to find its probability distribution, i.e. the hydrogen demand of hydrogen-based vehicles, so the second type is processed by a distributionally robust optimization method. The overall objective is to minimize the total operational cost of the station, which also considers the battery swapping station overstock punishment. Because a reasonable battery swapping scheduling can reduce the waiting time of users and operational cost of the station. The results indicate that the proposed method can effectively address the conservatism of solutions as its total operational cost is 4.4% lower than that of the hybrid stochastic/robust optimization method under a high confidence level.

Common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is one of the most important spring pollen allergens widespread in the Czech Republic. This study evaluates the changes in Carpinus betulus flowering and the length of the blooming period in the Czech Republic during 1991-2020. Temporal and spatial evaluations in the timing of the flowering and the length of the blooming period were investigated at different altitudinal levels. Moreover, the changes in mean air temperature and precipitation total in spring months (March-April-May) were assessed, including the correlation with phenological data. Geographic Information System methods, the Mann-Kendall test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for processing. The flowering of Carpinus betulus changed significantly over time during the 1991-2020 period. The linear models predicted early flowering in Carpinus betulus at different altitudes (27 days at > 701 m 18 days at 501-700 m and 13 days at 301-500 m) significantly (p<0.001) over the last three decades. Furthermore, the length of the blooming period of Carpinus betulus has been shortened (4 days) at the 301-500 m a.s.l. altitudinal level significantly (p<0.05). The strongest correlation was predominantly observed between flowering and the mean air temperature (March-April-May).

Common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is one of the most important spring pollen allergens widespread in the Czech Republic. This study evaluates the changes in Carpinus betulus flowering and the length of the blooming period in the Czech Republic during 1991-2020. Temporal and spatial evaluations in the timing of the flowering and the length of the blooming period were investigated at different altitudinal levels. Moreover, the changes in mean air temperature and precipitation total in spring months (March-April-May) were assessed, including the correlation with phenological data. Geographic Information System methods, the Mann-Kendall test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for processing. The flowering of Carpinus betulus changed significantly over time during the 1991-2020 period. The linear models predicted early flowering in Carpinus betulus at different altitudes (27 days at > 701 m 18 days at 501-700 m and 13 days at 301-500 m) significantly (p<0.001) over the last three decades. Furthermore, the length of the blooming period of Carpinus betulus has been shortened (4 days) at the 301-500 m a.s.l. altitudinal level significantly (p<0.05). The strongest correlation was predominantly observed between flowering and the mean air temperature (March-April-May).